Mamma meets Poco

Parenthood is challenging, unpredictable and at times unnerving. Poco was barely 4 months on a Saturday morning in the month of June. His dad decided to give him a head to toe massage before a bath. That's when he noticed a swelling on a tiny toe. Initially it looked like an insect bite but poco didn't seem like he was in pain. Our friends next doors suggested we call a medical facility. My husband spoke to a nurse who recommended an ointment and asked us to wait it out till Monday. We took him to the emergency department of a hospital for check up, just in case.... 'Just in case' turned out to be a big deal. A doctor inspected his toe and told us that something had cut through his skin! We were neither aware nor ready for this. They pricked and poked his toe with a forcep even as I held on to my wailing baby. Nothing in sight. They called for a podiatrist (foot specialist). By then we prepared ourselves for a surgery because that seemed like the only option to get ...

A big red book of fairy tales wriggled through the heap of memories and caught me unawares. It was a gift from my maternal grandparents when I was 8 or 9. The book does not exist anymore, not tangibly, but the thought of it brought a smile on my face. Those were the days when Hansel and Gretel were friends, Rapunzel and Cinderella role models; their battles with beasts and witches seemed like mine. The memory smelled divine bringing back a slice of the times and people who had moved away. Today when I think of a gift I want to give my son, nephews, nieces on the threshold of a new year I know it has to be the gift of stories; their own blue, green, yellow book of tales. A happy place they can turn to on one of those days when life gets gloomy or busy or mundane. Written on 31 December 2013

Poco has many toys but his favorite are his mamma toy and Papa toy who are at his Beck and call all day. So he feels like taking a walk at 2 in the morning. All he needs to do is press the 'waaaa' button and the next thing you see he is perched on Papa toy's arms and off for his leisurely stroll. He wants to chew on an old, dirty, poor excuse for a rattle and again click clack on that innocent smiley button and mamma toy comes running with the treasure. He climbs on them, pulls their hair, bites their nose, chews on their fingers. Mamma and Papa toys like the rest of the toys bear them all in silence. Written on 27 July 2013

He sleeps like the world's a gooey chocolate cake One that the angels beat, batter, bake. He sleeps like the stars are a million lollipop Aim at the biggest one, it drops with a plop. He sleeps in his cradle smiley trees abound Pick them each day and spread it all around. Wars, despair, chaos, gloom that befall He is cocooned by ignorance he sleeps through them all. He will know of a world where angels with broken wings Can weave no magic nor do they sing He will wake up to a land where fairies too weep But for now he is safe Sleep baby sleep. Written on 27 June 2013

When I cuddle my little one I can touch and smell his innocence almost as if he is tightly wrapped in it. I try and soak it all up because it won't last forever. Innocence is inversely proportional to length most of the times. He will soon outgrow his wrapper. Written on 22 March 2013